Local fire department to focus on Burn Prevention Week Feb 5-11

Lexington Fire Department will focus on Burn Prevention Week on social media.

“Sunday, February 5th marks the start of National Burn Awareness Week. Keep an eye on our page each day for important tips to prevent burns and scalds,” according to Lexington Fire Department’s social media.

With the theme “Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire!” local departments will share awareness for preventing scald injuries during February 5-11, 2023.

National Burn Awareness Week is a window of opportunity for organizations to mobilize burn, fire, and life safety educators to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in our communities.

Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in our Nation where tragically, children, the elderly, and the disabled are especially vulnerable to burn injuries, and almost one-third of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15.

The overall population, children under five were 2.0 times as likely to be seen for burn injuries at a hospital emergency department.

Young adults from 20 to 29 had 1.4 times the risk, and those in the 30-39 age group had 1.3 times the risk of the general population.

The primary causes of injury include fire-flame, scalds, contact with hot objects, and electrical and chemicals. Most of the injuries occur in the home. Today, 96.8% of those who suffer burn injuries will survive. Unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious scarring, life-long physical disabilities, adjustment difficulties.

National Burn Awareness Week, an initiative of the American Burn Association, is a coming together of burn, fire, and life safety educators to make the public aware of the frequency, devastation, and causes of burn injury as well as consistent and authoritative measures to prevent these injuries and how to best care for those that are injured.

The theme for 2023 National Burn Awareness Week is “Scalds: Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire,” where a common risk of injury exists from hot liquids, steam, and hot bath water; and Whereas, significant research and medical advances have dramatically improved burn care and treatment, aided rehabilitation, shortened hospital stays, and increased burn survival rates. Aftercare support for the physical and emotional effects of burns has also played a key role in the successful reintegration of burn survivors into our communities. Furthermore, burn safety education and prevention efforts continue to reduce the number of people who suffer burns each year.